Institute Schedule
Each day of the Institute will include three different types of substantive sessions: 1) introductions to key themes in law and religion scholarship (mornings); 2) case studies in law and religion scholarship (late mornings); and 3) panel discussions on texts and methods (early afternoons). Most days will conclude with an opportunity for two participants to workshop a scholarly project in progress with their peers.
Key Themes in Law and Religion Scholarship (Morning Sessions)
Introductory sessions on distinct areas within law and religion scholarship will be held each morning during the two-week institute. During these sessions, faculty members from different disciplines and institutions will present a handful of the most salient topics and questions within each area. To assist in orienting participants to the interdisciplinary study of law and religion, the first session will begin with exploring comparative disciplinary approaches to law.
The remainder of the morning sessions during the first week will focus on law, religion, and history (including the use of archives) and the Religion Clauses of the U.S. Constitution.
The second week will begin with a discussion of existing statutory protections for religion within U.S. law and then move to discussions of religious law, including its intersections with secular law, and then on to law, religion, and critical theory. These areas have been curated by the co-directors based on their relevance to humanities faculty.
Case Studies in Law and Religion Scholarship (Late Morning Sessions)
Building on the introductory morning sessions, the second session of each day will focus on the day’s distinct area but from the perspective of a particular discipline. These sessions are intended to build on their respective morning sessions and provide participants with an opportunity to compare how different disciplines approach and engage with a particular topic.
Panel Discussions: Texts and Methods (Early Afternoon Sessions)
During the third session, the guest faculty for the day will join one of the co-leaders for a panel discussion on a particular text or a particular method related to the day’s earlier lessons.
There will be ample time for participants to ask questions of the panel and to offer their own reflections on the day’s theme. To further tailor the discussion to participants’ interests, the co-leaders will provide participants with a means by which they can submit questions to panelists in advance. There will also be opportunities for participants to ask questions in real time and to add their perspectives to the discussion.
Workshopping Sessions
After the first day, participants will have the opportunity to workshop their own scholarship in progress during workshopping sessions at the end of each day. These sessions are blocked off for 1.5 hours, which allows for two 45-minute sessions each day. A participant presenting their work in progress will have 15 minutes to introduce their work and to pose any questions to the group and then 30 minutes for Q&A/discussion.
Co-leads will communicate with Institute participants in advance to schedule the presentations. Where possible, co-leads will also invite Emory faculty not participating in the Institute to join for workshopping sessions relevant to their expertise. If a slot remains unclaimed after all participants have the opportunity to present who wish to do so, co-leaders will share either their own scholarship in progress or a nascent law and religion textbook project they may undertake in the coming year. If more participants wish to present, the group can be split into two workshops, with one workshop facilitated by each co-leader.
Tentative Workshop Schedule
This schedule is provided for informational purposes only and is subject to change. Selected participants will be notified of schedule changes.
| Week 1 | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| 9:00am-10:00am |
Welcome and Orientation to Law and Religion |
Law, Religion, and History: An Introduction | Law, Religion, and History: Archives | Religion and Constitutional Protections (Free Exercise) | Religion and Constitutional Protections (Establishment) | Field Trip (Atlanta, GA) |
| 10:15am-11:45am | What is Law? | Law, Religion, and History: A Historian's Take | Law, Religion, and History: A View from the Legal Academy | Religion and Constitutional Protections: A View from the Law | Religion and Constitutional Protections: A View from Religious Studies | |
| 1:00pm-2:30pm |
Religion and Law: The Interdisciplinary Legacy of Harold Berman |
Panel Discussion of Texts and Methods | Panel Discussion of Texts and Methods | Panel Discussion of Texts and Methods | Panel Discussion of Texts and Methods | |
| 3:00-4:30pm |
Introductory Panel Discussion |
Participant Workshops (x2) | Participant Workshops (x2) | Participant Workshops (x2) | Participant Workshops (x2) |
| Week 2 | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| 9:00am-10:00am | Religion and Statutory Protections | Religious Law: An Introduction | Intersections: Religious Law and Secular Law | Law, Religion, and Critical Theory | Law, Religion, and . . . ? Future Directions in Scholarship | |
| 10:15am-11:45am |
Religion, Statutory Protections, and the Public Sphere |
Religious Law: A View from Anthropology | Religious Law: A View from Philosophy of Religion | Law, Religion, and Race | Wrap Up/ Discussion of Next Steps for Cohort and Scholarship | |
| 1:00pm-2:30pm |
Panel Discussion of Texts and Methods |
Panel Discussion of Texts and Methods | Panel Discussion of Texts and Methods | Panel Discussion of Texts and Methods | ||
| 3:00-4:30pm |
Participant Workshops (x2) |
Participant Workshops (x2) | Participant Workshops (x2) | Participant Workshops (x2) |
Check out the Institute reading list.